Machine for orienting and dispensing stamped metal lock nut blanks



Sept. 21, 1954 r A. H. THOMPSON 2,689,667

. MACHINE FOR ORIEN'I'ING AND DISPENSING STAMPED LOCK NUT BLANKS Filed NOV. 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l ozrzpjarz Sept. 21, 1954 A. H, THOMPSON 2,689,667

MACHINE FOR ORIENTING AND DISPENSING STAMPED LOCK NUT BLANKS Filed Nov. 30, 1.951

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 21, 1954 A. H. THOMPSON ,6 ,66

MACHINE FOR ORIENTING AND DISPENSING STAILPED METAL LOCK NUT BLANKS Filed Nov. 30, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 21, 1954 MACHINE FOR ORIENTIN G AND DISPENSING STAMPED METAL LOCK NUT BLANKS Arthur H. Thompson, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Thompson-Brcmer & 60., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application Novemberti), 1951, Serial No. 259,072

11 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to orienting and dispensing machines. More particularly the invention relates to that type of machine which is designed primarily for use in connection with the fabrication of stamped metal lock nuts and serves as a medium or instrumentality for orienting and dispensing the nuts after they are stamped into shaped blanks but before they are tapped.

As evidenced by United States Letters Patent No. 2,294,058, granted on August 25, 1942, and entitled Method of Making Lock Nuts it has heretofore been proposed first to form a stamped metal lock nut blank comprisin a substantially fiat polygonal base with a central circular hole therein, a comparatively short cylindrical sleeve connected to, and projecting in one direction from, the hole defining portion of the base, a series of right angle flanges connected to the side margins of the base and projecting in the sam direction as the sleeve and a series of laterally flexible inwardly extending tongues havmg the outer ends thereof connected to certain ends of the flanges and their inner ends in lapped relation with the free end of the sleeve, and then to subject the blank to a single tapping operation in order to form an internal or female screw thread in the sleeve and spirally arranged teeth in the inner ends of th tongues in phase or conformity with the screw thread in the sleeve. In making or fabricatin stamped metal lock nuts according to the aforementioned procedure blanks are fed, one at a time, to the tapping station and it is essential or necessary for proper tapping that the blanks be oriented, i. e., similarly positioned by having the sleeves, flanges and tongues thereof face in the same direction.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a machine which serves effectively and, efficientl to orient stamped metal lock nut blanks of the aforementioned character and also to dispense them, one at a time, to the tapping station, and is characterized by a simple and novel arrangement of parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock nut blank orienting and dispensing machine in which the orienting means is in the form of a hollow, horizontally elongated, power driven drum which is mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, has associated therewith means for delivering into its interior the lock nut blanks to be oriented, embodies in its side wall an annular series of longitudinally extending, substantially tangential slots which are slightly greater in thickness than the over-all thickness of the blanks and are adapted in connection with rotation of the drum to have the blanks slide transversely through them, and also embodies a plurality of laterally and equidistantly spaced pins which are connected to the portions of the drum side wall that define certain sides of the slots,

extend at right angles to, and project part way across the central portions of, the slots, have the exposed ends thereof spaced fromthe other sides of the slots a distance slightly greater than the length of the sleeves of the blanks, are adapted when the blanks are properly oriented in the slots, 1. e., positioned so that the bases thereof are in sliding engagement with said other sides of the slots, to permit the blanks to pass by them for discharg to the outside of the drum and are further adapted when the blanks are improperly oriented in the slots, i. e., positioned so that the bases thereof are in sliding engagement with the said one sides of the slots to engage the bases and thus prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slots to the outside of the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide an orienting and dispensing machine of the last mentioned character in which the portions of the side wall of the drum that carry the pins are removable in order that they may be replaced with other pin carrying portions when it is desired to adapt the drum to orient different sized lock nut blanks.

A further object of the invention is to provide an orienting and dispensing machine in which the means for dispensing the blanks after they are oriented in connection with passage through the slots in the side wall of the rotatable drum is in the form of a downwardly and forwardly inclined chute, the upper end of which is comparatively wide and surrounds the portion of the drum that travels upwards in connection with rotation of the drum and the lower end of which is comparatively narrow, leads to the tapping station and serves to feed or supply the oriented nuts in a single line to the tapping station.

A still further object of the invention is to provid an orienting and dispensing machine which is generally of new and improved construction and is so designed that it is capable of being produced at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present orienting and dispensing machine will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a side view of anorienting and dispensing machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view, certain parts of the central portion of the dispensing chute being 3 omitted and other parts being shown in section for purposes of illustration;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and illustrating in detail the construction and design of the hollow horizontally elongated rotary drum constituting the blank orienting means of the machine;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line hl of Figure 3 and showing theconstruction and arrangement of the means for introducing or supplying into the interior of the drum the lock nut blanks to be first oriented 'and'thcn dispensed;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a stamped metal lock nut blank of the type that is adapted to be oriented and dispensed by the machine;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse section illustrating in detail the manner in which the pins on the removable portions of the drum side wall permit the lock nut blanks to pass through the longitudinally extending substantially tangential slots in the drum side wall-when they are properly oriented;

Figure 7 is a section on the line 'l'l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a section like Figure 6 except that it shows the manner in which the pins engage the bases of the blanks and prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slots to the outside of the drum when the blanks enter the slots in an improperly oriented position;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 99 of Figure '7;

Figure 10 is a side view of one of the removable pin carrying portions of the side wall of the rotary power driven drum;

Figure 11 is an end view of the pin carrying portion that is shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line l2l2 of Figure 1, illustrating in detail the cross sectional construction of the central portion of the downwardly and forwardly inclined chute constituting the dispensing means of the machine and showing in detail the design and arrangement of the rotary finger equipped device for preventing the blanks from wedging at the point where they pass or slide, one at a time, into the receiving portion of the lower narrow end of the chute;

Figure 13 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line iii-4 3 of Figure land illustrating the cross sectional construction of the narrow lower end of the chute;

Figure 14 is an enlarged "front view of the funnel shaped central portion of the chute-whereby the blanks are caused to pass, one ata time, from the comparatively wide upper end of the chute to the narrow lower end; and

Figure 15 is a section on the line l5l5 of Figure 14.

Ehe machine which is shown in the drawings constitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is of unitary character and serves as a medium or instrumentality'for orienting and then dispensing to a tapping station (not shown) stamped metal lock nut blanks like the blank that is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

' The blank of Figure 5 is in the form of a one-piece metal stamping and comprises a hexagonal base it with a circular hole H in its central portion, a cylindrical sleeve 58, a series of'flanges l9 and a series of tongues 29. 'Ihe'sleeve i8 is comparatively short and is connected'to, and projects in one direction from, the hole defining portion of the base it. The flanges l9 are six in number and extend inwards from the flanges l9.

are connected to the side margins of the base. They extend at right angles to the base, project in the same direction as the sleeve l8 and are of materially greater height than the sleeve. As best shown in Figure 9 the flanges is are of less length than the side margins of the base It in order that there are spaces or openings between the ends of the flanges. The tongues 20 of the lock nut blank of Figure 5 are six in number and They are arranged substantially radially with respect to the axis of the sleeve l8 and have the outer ends thereof connected to certain ends of the flanges l9 and their inner ends spaced apart and disposed in lapped relation with the free end of the sleeve [8. For a more detailed description of the lock nut blank of Figure 5 reference may be had to United States Letters Patent No. 2,294,059, granted on August 25, 1942. As its principal components or parts the orienting and dispensing machine comprises a frame structure 2 I, a rotary drum 22,

power operated mechanism '23 for'driving the drum, a shell 24 around the drum and a downwardly and forwardly inclined chute 25.

The frame structure 2! comprises a pair of parallel, laterally spaced, horizontally extending angle bars 26, a pair of parallel, laterally spaced, vertically extending angle bars 2! and a pair of parallel, laterally spaced diagonally extending angle bars 28. The horizontally extending angle bars 26 form the base of the frame structure 28 and are adapted to rest on any suitable supporting surface. The vertically extending angle bars 2'! have the lowerends thereof welded or otherwise suitably secured to certain adjacent ends of the angle'bars 25. The diagonally extending angle bars 28 have the upper ends thereof welded or otherwise fixedlysecured to the upper ends of the vertically extending angle bars 27! and their lower ends weldedor otherwise fixedly secured to the other adjacent ends of the horizontally extending angle bars 26. In addition to the heretofore mentioned angle bars the frame structure 2! comprises ahorizontally extending bed plate 2.9 and an inclined plate so. The horizontally extendingbed plate as directly overlies the horizontally extending angle bars 25. It is located a small distance inwards of the lower ends of the vertically extending angle bars 2i and has its ends connected to the subjacent portions of the horizontally extending angle bars 26 by angle bracketed The inclined plate so extends across, and is suitably connected to, the upper ends of the diagonally extending angle bars 28 and serves with the bed platefZi to hold the angle bars at one side of the framestructure in fixed spaced apart relation with the angle bars at the other side of the frame structure.

The rotary drum 22 is horizontally elongated and overlies the upper ends of the diagonally extending ang-lebars .28 of the frame structure 21. It is mounted, as hereinafter described, to rotate about a horizontal axis and consists of a'pair of circular end walls '32 and 33 and a hollow cylindrical side wall 3 As best shown in Figure lofthe drawings the drum 22 is dis posed between two Li-shaped brackets 35 and .36. The bracket 35 is located a small distance outwards of the drum end wall '32. It is connested-to, and project upwards from, one end of'the plate 30 and has a small sized horizontally extending circular hole 3? in its upper end. The other bracket, i. e., the bracket 36, is located out wards of the end wall 330i the drum. It is con- .nected to, and projects outwards from, the other end of the plate and is provided in its upper end with a large sized horizontally extending hole 33. The latter is in axial alignment with the small sized hole 31 in the upper end of the bracket 35 and surrounds the outer end of a horizontally extending sleeve 39. The outer extremity of the sleeve 39 is provided with an upwardly extending right angle flange 40 which fits against, and is secured by bolts 4!, to, the hole defining portion of the bracket 36. The end wall 32 of the drum embodies on its central portion an. integral outwardly extending hub 42 and is supported rotatably by way of a horizontally extending stub axle 43. The inner end of the stub axle extends through, and is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to, the hub 42 andthe central portion of the stub axle is journalled in. the hole 31 in the upper end of the L-shaped bracket 35. The end wall 33 of the drum has in the central portion thereof a circular hole 44 through which extends the inner end of the horizontally extending sleeve 39. A bearing sleeve 45 is interposed between the inner end of the sleeve 39 and the hole defining central portion of the drum end wall 33 and forms a journal for said end wall. The lock nut blanks to be oriented and dispensed by the machine are introduced into the interior of the drum 22 by way of an elbow shaped conduit 46. One end of this conduit fits within, and is secured to, the outer end of the sleeve 39 and the other end extends upwards as shown in Figures 2 and 4. It is contemplated that the lock nut blanks to be oriented and dispensed will be introduced into the upwardly extending end of the conduit 46, to the end that they will slide through the conduit and then pass into the drum interior via the sleeve 39. The hollow cylindrical side wall 34 of the drum 22 extends between the end Walls 32 and 33 and has the ends thereof seated in inwardly facing annular grooves 41 in the outer margins of the end walls. Screws 4% extend through holes in said outer marginal portions of the drum end walls and into screw threaded sockets in the ends of the side wall 34 and serve releasably to connect the drum end walls to the side wall. The side wall 34 is provided with an annular series of longitudinally extending substantially tangential slots 49. These slots are shown in the drawings as being four in number and are spaced equidistantly apart. They are flat and extend throughout the entire length of the side wall 34 of the drum. The thickness of the slots is slightly greater than the thickness of the lock nut blanks to be oriented in order that the blanks may slide through the slots from the drum interior to the drum exterior. It is contemplated that in connection with operation of the machine the drum 22 will be driven continuously in the direction of the blank receiving or inner portions of the slots 49, i. e., in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 3 (see arrow). When the drum is rotated or driven the lock nut blanks in the drum are caused to tumble over the lower portion of the inner periphery of the drum side wall 34. As a slot 49 swings downwards from a3 oclock to a 6 oclock position, as viewed in Figure 3, certain of the blanks enter in an edgewise manner the receiving portion of the slot. As the slot swings upwards from a 6 oclock to a 9 oclock position, as viewed in Figure 3, the lock nut blanks that are in the receiving portion of the slot tend, in response to the action of gravity, to slide transversely through the slot to the drum exterior. In order to orient the blanks so that they slide completely through the slots only when the bases l6 thereof are in sliding engagement with the inner sides of the slots each slot is provided with a longitudinally extending series of equidistantly spaced pins 59. The latter extend at right angles to the slots and are preferably located substantially midway between the receiving and discharge portions of the slots. As shown in Figure 10, the pins are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the width of the b anks. The outer ends of the pins fit firmly or snugly in bores 5| in the portions of the drum side wall that define outer sides of the slots 49. The inner ends of the pins extend part way across the slots and have the outer extremities thereof spaced from the inner sides of the slots a distance slightly greater than the length of the sleeves l8 of the blanks. The width of the pins is slightly less than the distance between the ends of the flanges it of the blanks and the distance between the inner ends of the tongues 23. If the lock nut blanks enter the slots 49 in such manner that the bases thereof are disposed adjacent the inner sides of the slots as shown in Figures 6 and '7 they are not impeded or obstructed by the inner ends of the pins to and hence are free so to slide completely through the slots to the drum exterior. In connection with passage of properly oriented blanks through the slots the bases and sleeves of the blanks slide through the spaces between the end extremities of the inner ends of the pins and the inner sides of the slots, and the spaces between th flanges I9 and the spaces between the inner ends of the tongues 20 accommodate the inner ends of the pins. If the lock nut blanks enterthe receiving portions of the slots 49 in such manner that the bases thereof engage the outer sides of the slots as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the bases of the blanks strike against the inner ends of the pins and hence the pins arrest the blanks and prevent them from sliding completely through the slots to the drum exterior. All blanks that are arrested by the pins because they do not enter a slot in properly oriented fashion drop in response to the action of gravity back into the drum interior when the slot swings from a 12 oclock to a 3 oclock position as viewed in Figure 3. The blanks that drop back into the drum interior are caused to tumble in connection with rotation of the drum and ultimately enter one of the slots in a properly oriented position and slide through the slot to the drum exterior. The portions of the drum side wall 34 that carry the blank orienting pins 5@ are formed separately from the other portions of the drum side wall in order that they may be replaced with other pin carrying portions when it is desired to adapt the drum to orient dififerent sized lock nut blanks. The pin carrying portions of the drum side wall 34 are connected to the other portions of the side wall by tongue and notch connections 52. When it is desired to remove the pin carrying portions of the drum side wall the screws 43 for such portions are removed. Upon removal of the screws the pin carrying portions of the drum side wall are released and hence may be replaced by other pin carrying portions which are constructed so that when they are in place they adapt the drum to orient different sized. lock nut blanks.

lhe power operated mechanism 23 for driving the drum 22 comprises a unidirectional constant speed electric motor 53, a speed reducing unit 5% and a sprocket and chain connection 55. The electric motor 53 is located over the central por- 37 tions ofthe horizontally extending angle bars 26 of the "frame structure 2 'l and is arranged so that the armature shaft thereof extends horizontally. The speed reducing unit is is mounted on the central portion of the "bed plate 23 and comprises a housing 56, a drive shaft (not shown) and a driven-shaft '51. The drive shaft of the speed reducing unit is connected for drive by the armature shaft of the electric motor 53 and serves when driven to drive the driven shaft 51 through the medium ofgears within the housing 56. "The driven shaft 5? of the unit 54 is positioned horizontally and extends transversely of the frame structure 2|. The sprocket and chain connection 55 comprises a sprocket 53 on one end of the driven shaft 5?, a sprocket 59 on the outeren'd of the stub axle'ilt and an endless chain tit-around the two sprockets. When current is supplied to the electric motor 53 the motor opcrates through the medium of the speed reducing unitzl l and the sprocket and chain connection 55 todrive the drum in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3. During drive of the drum the lock nut blanks within the drum are oriented as heretofore pointed out.

The shell '24 of the machine surrounds the drum 22. It is stationary and comprises a pair of end walls ti and 62 and a two-piece side wall 63. The'shell end wall BI is disposed a small distance outwards of the end wall 32 of the drum 22 and has in its central portion a circular hole E l through which the hub s2 extends loosely. The other end wall of the shell, i. e., the end wall 62, is disposed outwards of the drum end wall 33 and has in its central portion a circular hole 55 through which the central portion of the sleeve 39 extends. 'Bolts 66 extend through aligned holes in the L-shaped bracket 36 and the lower portion of the shell end wall 62 and serve to hold said shell end wall in fixed relation with the bracket 36. The side wall'63 of the shell 2% extends between, and is suitably secured to, the outer marginal portions of the end walls 6! and 62 and consist of an arcuate piece 67 and an opposed arcuate piece G8. The-arcuate sidewall piece 51 extends through an arc of approximately 180 and extends closely around the front and lower portions of the side wall 3d of the drum 22. The arcuate piece 68 of the shell side wall piece 63 extends throughout an arc of approxirnatel 180 and is disposed around, but spaced a small distance outwards of, the rear and upper portions of the drum side wall M. The space between the inner periphery of the piece 53 and the rear and upper portions of the drum side wall constitutes an arcuate discharge duct fill for the oriented locknut blanks that pass through the slots 49 as the latter swing upwards from a 6 oclock to a 9 oclock position as viewed in Figure 3. The side wall piece 68 is so spaced from the adjacent portions of the drum side wall that the discharge chute 69 is the same in thickness as the slots 49. piece 61 of the shell side wall is beveled as at it in order that it does not block the lower end of the arcuate discharge duct 69. The oriented lock nut blanks that pass through the slots t9 slide downwards through the discharge duct 59 and are dispensed to the aforementioned tapping station by way of the downwardly and forwardly inclined chute 25.

The chute 25 extends downwards and forwards from the lower end of the discharge duct 69 and consists of a bottom plate H, a pair of upperstrips 12, a pair of intermediate strips 13,

The lower side margin of the I of the funnel shaped channel 19.

in the channels .may be inspected or via 'apair'tof lower strips 14 and a top plate [5. The bottom plate H is T-shaped and consists of a wide upper part 16 and a narrow lower part 11. The upper part 16 of the bottom plate ll is the same in width as the side wall 63 of the shell 24 is long. The upper end of the upper part 16 is connected to the lower end of the arcuate piece 68 of the shell and is arranged so that its upper surface is flush with the upper corner of the lower end of the arcuate piece 6%, as shown in'Figure 3. The upper strips F2 are mounted on, and secured to, the upper portions of the side margins of the upper-part it of the bottom plate H. They are arranged in parallel relation and define between them a wide channel 18, the upper end of which registers and is in direct communication with the lower end of the discharge duct 159. The intermediate strips 12 are arranged in V formation and are mounted on the lower portion of the upper part it of the bottom plate ll. They define between them a funnel shaped channel '59, the upper end of which is in direct communication with the lower end of the channel it. The upper ends of the intermediate strips 13 abut against the lower ends of the upper strips '52 and the lower ends of the intermediate strips are spaced apart so as'to form an outlet forthe lower or small end The lower strips 14 are mounted on, and connected to, the side margins of the lower part ll of the bottom plate 5!. They define between them a narrow channel 85, the upper end of the which is in direct communication with the lower or small end of the funnel shaped channel E3. The width of the-narrow channel at is slightly greater the width of the lock nut blanks in order that when the blanks slide downwards through channel ffii! they are arranged in a single line. The upperends ofthe lower strips l5 abut against the lower ends of the intermediate strips E3. The thickness of the strips T2, l3 and iii is slightly greater than the thickness of the blanks in order that the blanks slide freely downwards through the channels 18, is and 89. The top plate 55 of the chute '25 is shaped coniormably to the bottom plate 3! and rests on, and is secured to, the upper surface of the strips 52,

and M. It forms a closure for the upper portionsof the'channels i8, i5 and 8t and is preferably formed of transparent plastic mate rial in order that the oriented lock nut bl" The oriented lock nut blanks, after transversely through the slots 59 in the drum side wall 34, slide downwards, first through th discharge duct 69, then through the wide channel i8 between the upper strips 72, then through the funnel shaped channel E9 between the intermedi ate strips 13 and then through the narrow channel 853 between the lower strips is. As shown in Figure 1, the lower end of the chute 25 is curved so that the oriented blanks are in a horizontal position as they leave the lower or discharge end consists of a hub 82 and a series of equidistantly spaced, outwardly extending, resilient fingers 83. The hub 8! is keyed or otherwise fixedly secured to the central portion of a horizontally extending shaft 8t, the ends of which are journalled in bearing brackets 85 on the central portion of the diagonally extending angle bars 23 of the frame structure 2 I. The inner ends of the fingers 83 fit snugly within radially extending holes 86 in the hub 82 of the device 8|. The top plate 75 of the chute is provided with a longitudinally extending finger receiving slot 8'! directly beneath the device 8|. It is contemplated that the device 8! will be driven in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 15. In connection with drive of the device the outer ends of the resilient fingers 83 swing successively through the slot 8'! and kick upwards the oriented blanks in the lower or small end of the funnel shaped channel 79. The kicking action is intermittent and serves to prevent the oriented blanks from wedging in the lower end of the funnel shaped channel it to the end that the blanks pass, one at a time, into the narrow channel 80 between the lower strips M of the chute. Drive of the device Si is elfected by way of a sprocket 88 which is mounted on one end of the shaft 84 so that it lies in the same vertical plane as the sprockets 53 and 5d of the sprocket and chain connection 55. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the chain Ell of the connection 55 extends part way around the sprocket 38 on the shaft 84. When the electric motor 53 is in operation the sprocket and chain connection 55 operates conjointly to drive the drum 22 and the rotary finger equipped device 8!.

When it is desired to use the machine lock nut blanks to be oriented and dispensed are introduced into the interior of the rotary drum 22 by pouring them into the elbow shaped conduit 36. After the blanks are introduced into the drum the electric motor 53 is started so as to effect drive of the drum and the rotary finger equipped device 8i. In connection with rotation of the drum the blanks tumble within the lower portion of the drum interior and certain of the blanks, as hereinbefore pointed out, pass or slide completely through the slots 49 as the slots swing successively upwards from a 6 oclock to a 9 oclock position as viewed in Figure 3. The oriented blanks that pass through the slots slide downwards through the discharge duct E39 and the channels l8, l9 and 80 and are then discharged, one at a time, from the lower end of the chute 25.

The herein described orienting and dispensing machine is essentially simple in design and construction and effectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose. With the pins 50 arranged as shown in the drawings the oriented lock nut blanks are discharged, one at a time, with the bases thereof facing upwards. If it is desired to have the oriented blanks discharged so that the bases face downwards the pins 50 are reversely positioned, i. e., they are connected to the portions of the drum side wall that define the inner sides of the slots 49 instead of the portions of the drum side wall that define the outer sides of the slots.

Whereas the machine has been described as being adapted primarily for use in orienting and dispensing lock nut blanks of a particular type it is to be understood that the machine may be used to orient and dispense other articles having bases and spaced apart right angle flanges on scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles such as lock nut blanks of the type that comprises a substantially fiat base and a continuous series of right angle flanges connected to the outer margin of the base and provided with spaces between their ends, said machine comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, including a continuous side wall around said axis, provided with means for introducing the blanks to be oriented into its interior, having formed in its side Wall a longitudinally extending substantially tangential slot that is of slightly greater thickness than the blanks and extends through said side wall, and embodying in associated relation with the slot a longitudinal series of laterally and equidistantly spaced pins, said pins being positioned so that they extend transversely of the slot, having certain ends thereof connected to the portion of the drum side wall that defines one side of the slot and their other ends projecting part way across the slot and terminating a distance from the other side of the slot slightly greater than the thickness of the bases of the blanks, being spaced laterally apart a distance less than the width of the blanks, being of less thickness than the spaces between the ends of the flanges of the blanks, being adapted when the blanks enter the slot so that they are properly oriented with their bases in sliding engagement with said a other side of the slot to permit the blanks to pass across them for discharge to the drum exterior and being further adapted when the blanks enter the slot in reverse or improperly oriented position to engage the bases of the blanks and thus prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slot, and means for rotating the drum in the direction of the inner portion of the slot in order to cause the blanks within the drum to enter the slot and also cause those blanks that are properly oriented to slide by gravity through the slot to the drum exterior during upward swinging movement of said slot.

2. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles such as lock nut blanks of the type that comprises a substantially flat base and a continuous series of right angle flanges connected to the outer margin of the base and provided with spaces between their ends, said machine comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, consisting of a cylindrical side wall and circular end walls at the ends of the side wall, provided with means for introducing the blanks to be oriented into its interior, having formed in its side wall a plurality of longitudinally extending substantially tangential equidistantlt spaced slots that are of slightly greater thickness than the blanks and extend through said side wall, and embodying in associated relation with the slots longitudinal series of laterally and equidistantly spaced pins, said pins being positioned so that they extend transversely of their respective slots, having certain ends thereof connected to the portions of the drum side wall that define certain sides of the slots and their other ends projecting part way across the slots and terminating a distance from the other sides or theflslots slightly greater, than the thickness of the bases of the blanks, being spaced laterally apart a distance less than the width of the blanks, being of less thickness than the spaces between the ends of the flanges of the blanks, being adapted when the blanks enter the slot so that they are properly oriented with their bases in sliding engagement with said other sides of the slots to permit the blanks to pass across them for discharge to the drum exterior, and being further adapted when the blanks enter the slots in reverse or improperly oriented position to engage the bases of the blanks and thus prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slots, and means for rotating the drum in the direction of the inner portions of the slots in order to cause the blanks within the drum to enter the slots and also cause those blanks that are properly oriented to slide by gravity through the slots to the drum exterior during upward swinging movement of the slots.

3. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles such as lock nut blanks of the type that comprises a substantially flat base and a continuous series of right angle flanges connected to the outer margin of the base and provided with spaces between their ends, said machine comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, consisting of a continuous side wall and end Walls at the ends of the side wall, provided in the central portion of one of its ends walls with a hole for introducing into its interior the blanks to be oriented, having formed in its side wall a longitudinally extending substantially tangential slot that is of slightly greater thickness than the blanks and extends through said side wall, and embodying in associated relation with the slot a longitudinal series of laterally and equidistantly spaced pins, said pins being positioned so that they extend transversely of the slot, having certain ends thereof connected to the portion of the drum side wall that defines one side of the slot and their other ends projecting part way across the slot and terminating a distance from the other side of the slot' slightly greater than the thickness of the bases of-the blanks, being spaced laterally apart a distance less than the prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slot, and means for rotating thedrum in the direction of the inner portion ofthe slot in order to cause the blanks within the drum to enter the slot and also cause the blanks that are properly oriented to slide by gravity through the slot to the drum exterior during upward swinging movement of-said slot.

l. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles such as lock nut blanks:

of the type that comprises a substantially fiat base and a continuous series of right angle flanges connected to the outer margin of the basev and provided with spaces between their ends, said machine comprising; a hollow drum mounted 12 to rotate about a horizontal axis consisting of a cylindricalside Wall and circular end walls at the ends ofv the: sidewall, provided with a circular hole inthe central portion of one of its end walls, having associated therewith a stationary elbow shaped conduit adapted to introduce the blanks to be oriented into the drum interior and arranged so that one end thereof extends upwards andits other end leads to the hole defining portion of said one end wall, having formed in its side-wall a longitudinally extending substantially tangential slot that is of slightly greater thickness than the blanks and extends through said side wall, and embodying in associated relation with the slot a longitudinal series of laterally and equidistantly spaced pins, said pins being positioned so that they extend transversely of the slot, having certain ends thereof connected to the portion of the drum side wall that defines one side of the slot and their other ends projecting part way across the slot and terminating a distance from the other side of the slot slightly greater than the thickness of the bases of the blanks, beingspaced laterally apart a distance less than the width of the blanks, being of less thickness than the spaces between theends of the flanges of the blanks, being adapted when the blanks enterthe slot so that they are properly oriented with their bases in sliding engagement with said other side of the slot to permit the blanks to pass across them for discharge to the drum exterior, and being further adapted when the blanks enter the slot in reverse or improperly oriented position to engage the bases of the-blanks and thus prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slot, and means for rotating the drum in the direction of theinner'portion of'the slot in order to cause the blanks within the drum to enter the slot and also cause those blanks that are properly oriented-to slide by gravity through the slot to the drum exterior during upward swinging movement of said slot.

5. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles such as lock nut blanks of the type that comprises a substantially flat base and a continuous series of right angle flanges connected to the outer margin of the base and provided-with spaces between their ends, said machine comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, including a continuous sidewall around said axis, provided with means for introducing the blanks to be oriented into its interior, having formed in its side wall a longitudinally extending substantially tangential slot that is of slightly greater thickness than the blanks and extends through said side wall, and embodying in associated relation with the slot alongitudinal series of laterally and equidistantly spaced-pins, said pins being positioned so that they extend transversely of the slot, having certainends thereof connected to the portion of the drum-side wall that defines one side of the'slot and their other ends projecting part way across the slot and terminating a distance from thejother side of the slot slightly greater than the thickness of the bases of the blanks, being spaced laterally apart a distance less than the width of the blanks, being of less thickness thanthe spaces, between the ends of the flanges of the blanks, being adapted when the blanks enter the slotso that they are properly oriented withtheirbases in sliding engage-- mentwith-said other sideof the slot to permit the blanksstolpass .across-themior discharge to the drum exterior, and being further adapted when the blanks enter the slot in reverse or improperly oriented position to engage the bases of the blanks and thus prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slot, said portion of the drum side wall that defines one side of the slot and has said certain ends of the pins connected thereto being formed separately from the adjoining portion of the dum side wall and connected in place so that it may be removed for replacement purposes, and means for rotating the drum in the direction of the inner portion of the slot in order to cause the blanks within the drum to enter the slot and also cause those blanks that are properly oriented to slide by gravity through the slot to the drum exterior during upward swinging movement of said slot.

6. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles and comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, consisting of a cylindrical side wall and circular end walls at the ends of the side wall, provided with means for introducing the articles to be oriented into its interior, having formed in its side wall a straight longitudinally extending slot that is of slightly greater thickness than the article, extends through said side wall and is of such length that it is capable of receiving at one time a plurality of articles in the form of a lateral row, and embodying adjacent and lengthwise of the slot a series of elements spaced laterally apart a distance less than the width of the articles and operative to permit the articles to slide by gravity downwards through the slot when they fall in one direction and are hence properly oriented and to prevent said articles from sliding through the slot when they are improperly oriented, means for rotating the drum, and a stationary shell positioned around the drum and embodying an arcuate side wall piece extending around that portion of the drum side wall where the properly oriented articles emerge from the slot and spaced from the last mentioned portion so as to form therebetween an arcuate open bottom article receiving duct that extends lengthwise of the drum side wall and serves downwardly to discharge the oriented articles that emerge from the slot.

7. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles such as lock nut blanks of the type that comprises a substantially fiat base and a continuous series of right angle flanges connected to the outer margin of the base and provided with spaces between their ends, said machine comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, consisting of a continuous side wall and circular end walls at the ends of the side wall, provided with means for introducing the blanks to be oriented into its interior, having formed in its side wall a longitudinally extending substantially tangential slot that is of slightly greater thickness than the blanks and extends through said side wall, and embodying in associated relation with the slot a longitudinal series of equidistantly spaced pins, said pins being positioned so that they extend transversely of the slot, having certain ends thereor connected to the portion of the drum side wall that defines one side of the slot and their other ends projecting part way across the slot and terminating a distance from the other side of the slot slightly greater than the thickness of the bases of the blanks, being spaced laterally apart a distance less than the width of the blanks, being of less thickness than the spaces between the ends of the flanges of the blanks, being adapted when the blanks enter the slot so that they are properly oriented with their bases in sliding engagement with said other side of the slot topermit the blanks to pass across them for discharge to the drum exterior, and being further adapted when the blanks enter the slot in reverse or improperly oriented position to engage the bases of the blanks and thus prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slot, means for rotating the'drum in the direction of the inner portion of the slot in order to cause the blanks within the drum to enter the slot and also cause those blanks that are properly oriented to slide by gravity through the slot to the drum exterior during upward swinging movement of said slot, and a stationary shell positioned around the drum and embodying an arcuate side wall piece extending around that portion of the drum side wall Where the oriented blanks emerge from the slot and spaced from the last mentioned portion so as to form therebetween an arcuate open bottom blank receiving duct of substantially the same thickness as said slot and for the purpose of discharging the downwardly oriented nuts after they emerge from the slot.

8. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles and comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, consisting of a cylindrical side wall and circular end walls at the ends of the side wall, provided with means for introducing the articles to be oriented into its interior, having formed in-its side wall a straight longitudinally extending slot that is of slightly greater thickness than the articles, extends through said side wall and is of such length that is capable of receiving at one time a plurality of articles in the form of a lateral row, and embodying within and lengthwise of the slot a series of elements spaced laterally apart a distance less than the width of the articles and operative to permit the articles to slide by gravity downwards through the slot when they fall in one direction and are hence properly oriented and to prevent said articles from sliding through the slot when they are improperly oriented, means for rotating the drum in one direction, and a stationary shell positioned around the drum, embodying an arcuate side wall piece extending around that portion of the drum side Wall where the properly oriented articles emerge from the slot and spaced from the last mentioned portion so as to form therebetween an arcuate open bottom article receiving duct that extends lengthwise of said drum side wall and serves downwardly to discharge the oriented articles that emerge from the slot, said shell also embodying a complemental arcuate side wall piece disposed in opposed relation with, and having its ends terminating adjacent the ends of, the first mentioned side wall piece and arranged so that its inner periphery is positioned in extremely close proximity to the adjacent portion of the drum side wall.

9. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles such as lock nut blanks or" the type that comprises a substantially flat base and a continuous series of right angle flanges connected to the out-er margin of the base and provided with spaces between their ends, said machine comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, consisting of a continuous side wall and circular end walls at the ends of the side wall, provided with means for introducing the blanks to be oriented into its inaosegcey:

nally extending substantially tangential .slot'that is of slightly greater thickness than the blanksv and extends through said side wall, and embodying in associated relation with the slot a longitudinal series of laterally and equidistantly spaced pins, said pins being positioned sothat they extend transversally of the slot, having certain ends thereof connected to the portion of the drum side Wall that defines one side of the slot and their other ends projecting part way across the slot and terminating a distance from the other side of the slot slightly greater than the thickness of the bases of the blanks, being spaced laterally apart a distance less than the width of the blanks, being of less thickness than the spaces between the ends or" the. flanges of the blanks, being adapted when the blanks enter the slot so that they are properly oriented with their bases in sliding engagement with said other side of the slot to permit the blanks to pass across them for discharge to the drum exterior, and being further adapted when the blanks enter the slot in reverse or improperly oriented position to engage the bases of the blanks and thus prevent the blanks from sliding completely through the slot, means for rotating the drum in the direction of the inner portion of the slot in order to cause the blanks within the drum to enter the slot and also cause those blanks that are properly oriented to slide by gravity through the slot to the drum exterior during upward swinging movement of said slot, and a stationary shell positioned around drum, embodying an arcuate side wall piece extending around that portion of the drum side wall where the oriented blanks emerge from the slot and spaced from the last mentioned portion so as to form therebetween an arcuate open bottom blank receiving duct of slightly greater thickness than the blanks and for the purpose of discharging downwards the oriented blanks that emerge from the slot, and also embodying a complemental arcuate side wall piece disposed in opposed relation with, and having the ends thereof terminating adjacent the ends of, the first mentioned side wall piece and positioned so that inner periphery is inclose proximity to the ad jacent portion of the side wall of the drum.

10. A machine adapted to orient similar irregularly shaped articles such as lock nut blanks of the type that comprises a substantially fiat base and a continuous series of right angle flanges con nected to the outer margin of the base and provided with spaces between their ends, said ma chine comprising a hollow drum mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, consisting of a cylindrical side wall and circular end walls at the ends of the side wall, provided with means for introducing the blanks to be oriented into its interior, having formed in its side wall a longitudinally extending substantially tangential slot that is of slightly greater thickness than the blanks and extendsthrough said side Wall, and embodying in associated relation with the slot a longitudinal series of laterally and equidistantly spaced pins, said pins, being positioned so that they extend transversely of the slot, having certain ends thereof connected to the portion of the drum side wall that defines one side of the slot and their other ends projecting part Way across the slot and terminating: a distance from the other side of the slot slightly greater than the thickness of v 16-" the bases of the blanks, beingspaced'lat'erall'y aparta distance less than the widthoi the blanks; being of less thickness than the spaces betweenthe ends of the flanges of the blanks, being adapted when the blanks enter the slot sothatthey are properly oriented with their bases insliding engagement: with said other side of theslct to permit the blanks to pass across them'fordischarge to the drum exterior, and being furtheradapted when the blanksenter the slot in reverse forrotating the drum in-the-direetion of the inner portion of-the slot in order to cause the blanks within the drum to enter the slotandalso-cau-se those blanks that are properly oriented-to slide by gravity through theslot to the drum exterior during upward swinging movement of-said slot, stationary shellpositioned around the drum and'embodying an arcuate side wall piece extending around that portion of the drum side wall where the orientedblanks emerge from the slot and spaced fromthelastmentioned portion so astoform therebetween an arcuate open bottom blank receiving duct of slightly greater thickness than the blanks, and an inclined chute having the upper end thereof "in communication with the open b'ottomof the duct, and adapted to receive the oriented blanks from said duct and dispense them to a' place of use.

11. A machine adapted" to orient similar irregularly shaped articles and comprising a hollow drummounted to rotate about a horizontal axis, consisting-of acylindrica-l side'walland circular end walls at the ends ofthe side wall, provided with means for introducing the articles to be oriented intoits interior, having formed in its side walla straight longitudinally extending slot that is of slightly greater thickness thanthe articles, extending throughsaid side wall'and is of such length that it is capable of receiving at one time a plurality of articles in the form of a lateral row, and embodying adjacent and lengthwise of the slot a series of elements spaced laterally'apart a distance less than? the width of the articles and operative to permit the articles to slide by gravity downwards through the slot' When-they fall in one direction and are hence properly oriented and to prevent said articles from sliding through the slot when they are improperly oriented; means' forrotating the drum, and a downwardly inclined chute adapted to dispense the oriented'articles to a place of use, having the upper end portion thereof substantially the same in width as the slot'in the drum side i References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS i-Zumber Name Date 1,692,275 Mortus Nov. 20, 1928 2,075,050 Nowinski Mar. 30, 1937 

